Tall Task of Chargers Justin Herbert Prompts…

EAGAN, Minn. – Minnesota has faced a number of talented quarterbacks so far this season, and things don’t get any easier this week.

The Vikings are slated to play the Chargers in Los Angeles Sunday afternoon, where they’ll need to contend with 2020 NFL Rookie of the Year (The Associated Press) Justin Herbert.

Drafted No. 6 overall by the Chargers, Herbert impressed in Year 1 and has continued that trend into his sophomore season.

He’s even drawing comparisons to a quarterback drafted five years before Herbert was born. Vikings Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator Andre Patterson was asked Wednesday about the challenges of playing Herbert.

“He’s got a strong arm; he can make all the throws. He’s a big kid, and for a big guy, he can move, too. I think that’s the thing that really kind of surprised me,” Patterson said of the 6-foot-6 Herbert, who weighs in at 238 pounds. “So we have to do a good job of making him feel us up front. The d-line has to do a good job of making him feel our presence, of getting him off the spot, make him uncomfortable. If he can sit back there in the rocking chair, we’re going to have a long day – because he can make every single throw.

“There’s not a part of the field that he cannot get the ball to. Honestly, he kind of reminds me of a young Drew Bledsoe,” Patterson added. “When I see him in his uniform and I see him throw the ball, it reminds me of Drew. Drew couldn’t run like [Justin] can, but just his body type, his mannerisms, the way he throws the ball – it reminds me of Drew.”